Saturday, December 3, 2011

Seems since the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, I've been going at full speed. From preparing the Thanksgiving Day meal, to the massive clean-up the day after, getting the rest of the Christmas decorations out and up . . . phew.

The tree in living room has been up since the weekend before Thanksgiving.

This tree was a cheap Walmart tree bought a ton of years ago. The tree itself is in pretty bad shape, actually, but once I stick it in the pretty urn planter, and cover it to death with ornaments, it looks just fine. Most of the ornaments on this tree were gift ornaments to me from girlfriends.

This is kind of my "girlie, fru-fru" tree.

The family room tree is covered with "family" ornaments. Most of the ornaments on this tree are ones purchased on vacations, or for the boys, or made by me or the boys.

I made this tree skirt years and years ago. It's tie-quilted. It was one of my first quilt projects.

Finally, the foyer tree is a'blazin'.

This is a prelit tree, and the lights on that tree are so bright.

It's almost blinding!

I haven't really decided how I'm ultimate going to decorate this tree. I do need to buy more ornaments for it. For now, I've been using what I have, but I think I'd like to make a theme tree with this one. Just have to figure out what theme I want to go with. Maybe since I'm known as the CosmoGirl, I should start buying martini glass and cocktail shaker ornaments.

Hummmm . . . I think I may be on to something!

The last two trees yet to go up are the four-foot trees in our bedroom and Son No. 3's bedroom. I plan to get to those by the end of the weekend. That, and getting the outside decorations/lights out.

Then I'll be totally done.

Yippee!!!

Now I have to get started shopping. I can't believe I haven't done any shopping at all yet. Well, yes, maybe I can, since I hate shopping.

This what I made using those items in my last post. Napkin rings!
Made from sections of the cardboard center of toilet paper roll, jute, and acorns.

I know Thanksgiving is most likely a faint memory to most, but I wanted to share a bit of my table. A few posts back I showed some table inspiration pics I had found on the web, and I did manage to incorporate a few of the ideas or variations of them for my own table.

The table "runner" is from a roll of bush burlap roll purchased from Lowes.
The roll measured 3'x24' and cost $10.

The glasses were my grandmothers and the silver flatware was Hubby's grandmothers. The tablecloth is actually 125" unbleached muslin used a lot for quilt backing, and costs as little as $4 a yard.

I was pretty happy with how the table turned out. Oh, and if I do say so myself ;o), the meal turned quite yummy too. I tried a few new side recipes, and they were darn good.

For the centerpiece, I used my PB bay leaf candle holder thingy that I'm pretty sure almost everyone on the planet owns.

I popped off the starfish I had on those pots for a summer centerpiece and hot-glued the silk fall leaves. In keeping with the spirit of thanksgiving, I made quick little framed reminders to place around the centerpiece letting everyone know what I was most thankful for.

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your families, and are busy making new Christmas memories.

4 comments:

Your table looked great, Carla! I love the framed text you did. Your trees look great, too! My main tree is my ornaments collected over the years and sentimental tree. I have two little 3 or 4 foot trees in urns I got from Goodwill a couple of years ago. Since our move I put one in the sunroom and one in our bedroom. Good luck with your shopping! I just need to pick up a few things for my son and then I'm done. I'm just stumped on what to get him this year.

I think I counted 5 trees??!! And I thought 3 were going to kill me! Love the one in the urn. Great idea and I have always wanted to put one in my foyer. Next year for sure. It feels so good to get them up and decorated doesn't it? They look beautiful. Love the napkin rings you made with the acorns. (Also wanted to tell you my son got accepted to UNC Charlotte this week. Still not sure if that's where he will end up but it's my husband and my first choice!) Very meaty post today! :)

Well Carla...it's true :)You have been busier than a one legged man in a butt kicking contest!!

You inspire me.You always do such a beautiful job on decorating and crafting. How creative and talented you are.

We have one tree up this year.At one time, we had as many as 7 trees, but in our quest to simplify our lives, we have whittled it down to one. One thing is for certain... we spend a lot less time putting Christmas decor up, and more time enjoying the season. I think it took me all of 30 minutes to get everything put away last year.

Thank you for posting your gorgeous pictures. Now I can enjoy many trees.